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Vol Network and FBI Score a Touchdown

FBI Knoxville November 23, 2009
  • Public Affairs Specialist Joyce McCants (865) 544-0751

The Tennessee Volunteers are winning important battles not only on the field but also on a different front. Through the Vol Network, they are helping the FBI ensure that the lives of thousands of children are a little safer.

FBI Public Affairs Specialist Stacie Bohanan has been working with Brian Browning of the University’s Finance and Administration Department, who also happens to be a member of the FBI Knoxville Citizens Academy Alumni Association. They were looking for a venue to distribute the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Child ID kits, so Brian introduced Stacie to another Brian—Brian Shupe, who until just recently was the Account Executive for the Vol Network.

The Vol Network is the main communications link between the University of Tennessee and its fans. “Our bread and butter is radio,” said Shupe. “But that has evolved into taking on marketing for all the athletics at the University.”

One of the Networks biggest ventures is Volunteer Village, a fun-filled event that takes place before every University of Tennessee football game. The Vol Village allows families who are not tailgating to come and play games and relax before kickoff. “Volunteer Village is a showcase for other parts of the University,” says Shupe. “We usually get between 30,000 and 40,000 fans at the Village.”

So on November 21st, as the Vols prepared to tussle with Vanderbilt, the FBI and the FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association were out in full force at the Volunteer Village passing out Child ID kits to thousands of parents. Thanks to the work of Stacie Bohanan, the FBI Knoxville Citizens Academy Alumni Association membership, and Brian Shupe, these were some of the most important passes completed on Saturday.

Tennessee Volunteers Distributing Child ID Kits